BIGlOADoFgARFORTH

Happy Red Nose Day, I hope you have had fun dressing your little ones in something red for school, or have you been to work with a big red nose today? I was contemplating sitting in the office with one, but there's no-one to show, and as much as I like being silly, this would be a step too far, even for me!

I'm yet to ever say, it's been a quiet week, I don't think anyone has a quiet week. I have been back and forth to the hospital this week, my Mum got rushed in early hours Monday morning with what now appears to be, Gastroenteritis. It's not nice seeing your little old (ish) mum being sick every 15 minutes and feeling a bit helpless, luckily we have wonderful hospitals, with wonderful staff who are starting to make her feel much better.

Autism Friendly Garforth - Shouting all Garforth TradersWe are now in a position to offer training to any of our Garforth local traders, Training will take place on Tuesday's and Thursday's between 28th May and 20th June at Cielo from 5.30pm - This is a free training session to make our town, Autism Friendly

​Helen from The Jigsaw Tree, explains all.......

Hello, I’m Helen, from the Jigsaw Tree, which is a community group based in Garforth. We support families of children with Autism Spectrum Conditions. The group was established in 2013 and now supports upward of 250 families in the Garforth, Leeds and the surrounding areas.

One of our aims is to raise autism awareness and acceptance in the local community. With help from the Tesco ‘Groundwork’ scheme, we are in a position to offer autism awareness training to customer facing businesses in Garforth (two members of staff per business).

We hope this will benefit you in three ways:

Firstly, the training is free of charge. I have been delivering autism training for a number of years to a wide variety of companies, which has always been very well received. The training will help businesses to understand what autism is, how it can affect people (especially in relation to your type of business) and how to make small, easy & free adjustments to accommodate someone with autism.

“Great to understand the ways our shop might affect autistic people – not struggling much myself, it was so easy to judge before. Now I will be much more mindful and know how to help!”

“A very insightful & human description of autism and the issues involved”

Secondly, having an autism-friendly Garforth will make visiting local business both more accessible and a more positive experience for the families we support. Many of our families only shop online due to difficulties with going to shops or the lack of understanding from people around them, but they would also like to support local business. Training for and resulting understanding from staff will help to increase custom as people with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and their families will feel more confident to explore their local community. Word soon spreads about positive experiences and more of the wider autism community will hopefully start to bring their custom to Garforth.

Thirdly, we will be promoting local business who attend the training in our social media and in association with Tesco Groundwork.

The free autism awareness training will be offered in the following categories and will be held in Cielo 17:30 – 19:00 on Tuesdays & Thursdays between May 28th & June 20th 2019Retail Restaurants/Cafes Beauty /Hair/Opticians/Dentists Groups/Clubs/Activity Centres

On completion of the autism awareness course, we will provide: A certificate of completion for attendees Materials to display to indicate that the business is ‘Autism Aware’. Information on autism awareness to cascade to other staff members.

To register your interest in attending the training, please click on the button 'Book here'. We very much hope you will take advantage of this free training. See you there!​Kindest regards, Helen

Saturday 16th from 7.30pm - Luke Flear will be performing Live at Quirky Ales

Tuesday 19th - 10.00am at Kidzone - Katherine is running Funky Jives Tinnies (1-2 year olds) Movement to music class, session are packed with fun and gives little ones the opportunity to release all of her energy through dance, singing, stamping, rolling, jumping, stretching, balancing and play -

Book www.funky-jives.class4kids.co.uk

Tuesday 19th 12pmuntil 1.30pm at Garforh Library - We have just been notified that the Tour de Yorkshire Trophy is coming to Garforth Library . It will be a great opportunity for fans to have a photo taken with the Trophy. If you have any friends, Garforth residents that you are aware of that might like to come and see the trophy on this day can you make them aware please as it’s a great opportunity for cycling fans etc.

Thursday 21st at 7.30pm at The Gaping Goose - Weekly Spiritual Development Open Circle with the lovely Sue Carrol - Everyone welcome

Saturday 23rd Garforth Academy 1.00pm-4.00pm - Roots Alive, Leeds Folk Fiddle Group and Arts Live Fold Band - Tickets are £5 (under 12s go free) and are available from:Garforth Academy reception, Lidgett Lane, Garforth LS25 1LJ,Garforth Library, Lidgett Lane, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1EHSPT Uniform Shop. 115 Main Street, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1AFTickets will be available on the door subject to availability, however we advise that you purchase your tickets in advance. Doors open at 13:00 and the music will begin at 13:30.For more information about this event please email Arts Live at:info@arts-live.co.uk James Jelliman

I just want to shout so loudly, 1. why do need another Gregg's, 2. Those units were never really intended for independents, as they're too big and too expensive. Ideal for the Vet's but not much else could go in there and if they decided to put the offer in for the whole unit, will this mean a cafe? I have aired my views to the powers that be, but not sure what can be done - this whole complex has created a destination and we saw Main Street have it's quietest February in a long time - I wonder why!

Thought for the weekend - please don't forget about the small guys, because without a good High Street, it will effect your house price! We need to get the balance right and we're slowly tipping too far to the chains, we surely don't want to be like every other town?

Until next week - A special thanks to Garforth in Bloom for making Garforth look so darn pretty

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My name is Christine Thom, I came to live in Garforth nearly 22 years ago; you may have seen me around ?

Over the past 5 years I have grown The Main Deal to give support to local businesses, classes, bands, activities, projects and try every day to change perceptions about the place we all live and how to #shoplocal #uselocal #shopgarforth first

The Blog is here for fun, to help you find out what's been going on each week in TMD HQ and what's relevant to Garforth, planning, news, events, and important information I feel you need to know.​The EthosConnecting community and business with each other through simple and clever marketing, and supporting g the good of where we chose to live.